5
Things You Can Strike Off Your Bucket List By Visiting Panama City Beach, FL
Panama City Beach (also nicknamed The Emerald Coast) is considered
to be part of the, "World's most beautiful beaches".The waters of
Panama City Beach are popular with fishermen and scuba divers who enjoy the
benefits of hundreds of offshore artificial reefs.
With its unique geography, sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico are ever-present almost the entire year. As if clear ocean waves lapping, and sugar-white sand aren’t reason enough, the cherry on top is Panama City Beach's attractions for children and people of all ages. Before you book vacation rentals in Panama City Beach, FL we have listed 5 fun activities to do in Panama City Beach, FL in
this article.
Andrews State Park
There are several state parks in the beach area, but one notable
park is Andrews State Park. It is situated on the east end of Panama City
Beach, along the shores of St. Andrew Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Grand
Lagoon. The park has a lot of beautiful white beaches that the state park is
famous for. It also has a few short and scenic hiking trails that follow along
the dunes. You can go scuba diving or snorkeling in the calm, clear waters, and
check out the Alligators and other wildlife in the swamp at Gator
Lake.
There are numerous shops in the park to purchase items for the day
and lots of parking. There is also a traditional campsite facing both the
Lagoon and the Bay. There is an admission fee, which is currently set at $5 per
vehicle, other fees are listed on the park's website
Shell Island Tours
Shell Island is an untouched stretch of beach about 7 miles long,
running east to west between the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay. The Shell
Island Tour is a favorite of many because of its beautiful, untouched white
sand. Parasailing rides, jet ski rentals, boat cruises, charter fishing trips,
banana boat rides, and sailboat rentals are also offered by many resorts in the
area.
Capt. Anderson's Marina offers several cruises out of the Marina,
and also has 35 private charters apart from the head/party boats and 4 dive
boats that make frequent trips to Shell Island during the day. One of these
cruises is The Shell Island Eco-Tour, which is a 3.5 hour long, narrated
cruise. During Summer it runs twice daily, 9:00a.m. - 12:30p.m. and 1:00p.m. -
4:30p.m.
Upon reaching the Island, the boat will unload and guests can
spend an hour exploring all the Island has to offer. Rates for this tour
are $25.00- Adult, $22.00 Senior/Military, $14.00- Child.
The best part of Panama Beach City is its golden sunsets, and what
makes it even better is pairing it with dolphin sightings.
Capt. Anderson's Marina offers a Sunset Dolphin Encounter that runs daily depending on the hours of the Sunset. As Bay County has a rich culture, Capt. Anderson takes pride in sharing this with their guests. This tour can be romantic or child-friendly, people of every age love sunsets and dolphins. Rates for this tour are $17.00- Adult, $15.00- Senior/Military, $10.00- Child. For more details on vacation rentals in the area, Captain Anderson’s Marina offers a wide array of amenities and activities for the whole family.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! ® Museum
If you’re done relaxing by the calm waters and are looking for something else interesting to do, Panama City Beach has many fun parks filled with activities for all ages, one of these being Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. A good backup for some indoor activities on an unfortunate rainy day, there is an activity for all seasons. Ripley's Believe It or Not! The museum is one of the Gulf Coast's favorite indoor attractions. Fun fact: Ripley's Believe It or Not! Started out as a newspaper cartoon in 1918 and is still in syndication to this day.
Experience the fun and unique exhibits, strap on your seat belts
for the seriously realistic 7D Moving Theater experience, and find your way and
find the right path in their Marvelous Mirror Maze. Venture through themed
galleries, look at incredible art, animal oddities, pop-culture memorabilia,
interactive games, and stories of people and places that will spark the
imagination of adults and children alike.
Enjoy the view at the SkyWheel
If you’re looking for something chill to do after a day by the sea, then the SkyWheel Panama City Beach is a full entertainment venue that is perfect for that. Featuring an 18-hole mini-golf course, a ropes course, and a Snack Shack. The main attraction is the SkyWheel, an observation wheel that stands nearly 200 ft. tall. SkyWheel is open all year long offering exciting experiences both for long-time fans or first-time visitors alike. It’s best to ride it at sunset as the 10-minute ride gives you a panoramic view of the Gulf, Pier Park, and City Pier.
Go for a ride at Race City
If you’re looking for high stake and adrenaline-pumping activities, Race City is the place to go. Experience the fun and excitement of the widest collection of exclusive Go-Kart courses. Or you can try your hand in the indoor Blacklight Mini Golf, The Hurricane Roller Coaster is another heart-pumping experience you would not want to miss!
There are other great family-friendly entertainment as well. This
includes bumper boats, a full indoor arcade complete with prizes, and an
incredible Sky Coaster?—everyone in the family will want to come back for more.
Do note that some of the more extreme rides are not for the
faint-hearted. But if the thrill of extreme rides is your thing, Race City will
definitely give you your thrill fix and then some!
Final thoughts
If you love the beach, the sun, and a whole lot of adventure, Panama City Beach should be on top of your list. Whether you’re traveling alone for the weekend or with friends over a week-long holiday, you’ll never run out of fun new things to try.
